[MERCHANTS MARK IN LH MARGIN]
the ''Johns … [MERCHANTS MARK IN LH MARGIN]
the ''Johns Adventure'' then rideing and being in the River of Boston<br />
aforesaid, one barrill of beaver and other skinns marked and numbred as in<br />
the margent being consigned to the said Henry Ashurst his Correspondents<br />
here in London, which barrill of goods this deponent received aboard the said<br />
shipp by order from his precontest John Cutting then ashoare at Boston, who<br />
writte a note to this deponent to receive the same aboard for the said Mr Sheafes accompt<br />
which this deponent did and gave a note under his hand for such the receipt<br />
thereof, but what was the quantitie of the said skinns hee saith hee knoweth<br />
not no And otherwise saith hee cannot depose:-/
To the third and schedule or Invoyce annexed now seene and perused<br />
by this examinate hee saith hee hath no positive or particular knowledge of<br />
the writeing sending or contents of the said schedule, but foresasmuch as this<br />
deponent hath often seene and observed the usuall character and firme of the said<br />
Sheafe, hee thereby is induced verily to beleeve that the said schedule or writeing,<br />
or factorie was and is really written and signed with the proper hand writeing<br />
of the said Sheafe, And further cannot depose: saving that about 14 moneths<br />
since this deponent being employed by his precontest Mr Cutting to attend at the<br />
Custome howse London about his said shipps then discharge, saw and observed some<br />
goods unladen out of the said shipp marked with the marke aforesaid, and consigned<br />
to the said Henry Ashurst by the said Jacob Sheafes as this deponent was then<br />
credibly informed/:-
To the 4th and schedule or bills of Ladeing annexed hee saith, That this<br />
deponent haveing been sewall times employed by his precontest John Cutting, to goe<br />
with the bills of ladeing by him signed to discharge goods both here at London<br />
and in new England, is very perfectly acquainted with his the said Cuttings<br />
manner of signeing of bills of Ladeing. and saith the said John Cutting upon<br />
the receipt of goods of any considerable valew being packed or barrelled up hath<br />
constantly writt, and doeth usually write immediately before his firme theise<br />
words, videlicet ('''the contents I know not''') so that this deponent though he were<br />
not personally present at nor did see the bill or schedule annexed signed, yet upon<br />
the grounds of experience and observation aforesaid hee was and is fully assured of<br />
the true signature of the said bill of Lading with the proper hand writeing of the<br />
said John Cutting his precontest
To the 5th hee saith, That the said barrill of goods Laden marked and numbred<br />
as aforesaid arrived and came in the said shipp ''Johns adventure'' in safety<br />
to this Port of London, which hee knoweth being Masters mate in and<br />
aboard the said shipp the voiage aforesaid, and saw the same hoisted out<br />
of the said shipp into a Lighter in the said Port of London.
To the 13th hee saith, That hee this deponent was present both at the<br />
Ladeing of the barrill of goods in Controversy in New England, and at<br />
the unlading of it here, at both which places hee well observed the<br />
marke thereof, and doeth not remember nor know that any other barrill of<br />
goods of the same marke was the voyage aforesaid Laden in and aboard<br />
the said shipps.
To the 14th article of the said Allegation hee saith, That as this deponent remembreth<br />
the said shipp ''Johns Adventure'' with the said Robert Hubbart a passenger<br />
aboard her sett sayle and departed from Boston aforesaid upon or about<br />
the 19th day of December <u>1655.</u> last past, and came the same day to<br />
Nantaskett about 9. miles from Boston, so that neither the said shipp<br />
nor her said Master nor the said Hubbart were at Boston the xx:th day<br />
of December <u>1655.</u> which hee knoweth being as aforesaid Masters<br />
mate of and aboard her the whole voiage:-/
To the 15th hee referreth to his foregoing deposition, And further cannot depose.ing deposition, And further cannot depose. +